Improvement in saturating fibrous materials with powdered substances



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ELIZA 1). MURFE OF NEW roam-1v. Y."

Letters Patent No. 108,285, dated Oiitober 11, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN SATURATING FIBROUS MATERIALS WITH POWDEREDSUBSTANCE FOR BEARINGS AND PACKING.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part ofthe lame I, ELIZA D. MURFEY, of New York, county of New York, State of New York, have invented a Process of Combining Powdered and Fibrous Materials in the Manufacture. of Bearings, Packings, 850., of which the following is a specification.

Nature and Object of the I nvent ion. Y

My invention consists of a process, too fully described hereaftcr to needpreliminary explanation, whereby comminuted insoluble substances and loose fibers may be thoroughly combined.

Fibrous material, as wool, hemp, hair, er cotton, or a mixture of such materials, is placed in a mass and slightly compressed upona perforated partition, arranged a-short distance above the bottom of a suitable vessel, the chamber beneath the said partition communicating with a suction-pump, or other exhausting apparatus. g

The insoluble substance, such as phn'nbago, asbestos, &c., which is to] be combined withthe fibers, is first comminutcd, and afterward thoroughly mixed with melted paratfine, tallow, or equivalent material.

The mixture is then poured into the vessel, upon the mass of fibers, and the air is exhausted from beneath the partition, so as to force themixture through the fibers.

As the mixture passes through themass of fibers it is filtered by the latter, sothat the paraiiine, or other vehicle for carrying the insoluble substance, passes into the chamber below the partition ina comparatively pure state, while the greater part. of the said substance is lodged among the fibers.

' 'After the mass of fibers-has become thoroughly impregnated with the insoluble substance it is with: drawnfrom the vessel, and subjected to pressure between heated plates, which remove nearly all the remainin g portion of parafline, or equivalent material, and reduce the mass to the form of a sheet, in which.

fibrous and insoluble substances are thoroughly and uniformly combined.

The sheet of material thus produced may be employed as a substitute for leather or rubber, in packing-joints, 860., or in stufliug-boxes as a packing for pistons, 850; or it may be out into blocks or strips,

and molded, under excessive pressure, to prod one hard packings or bearings.-

' Instead of passing the composition through a mass of fibers, as described, the whole may be mixed together, and then strained or compressed, so as to remove the cxcess of paraffine, or other material used as a vehicle, the comparatively dry mass being then compressed into sheets between'heated plates, so as to extract nearly all the remaining portion of the vehiele'remaining in the mass.

By the use of parafiine, or equivalent substances; as a vehicle for carrying the comminuted materials among the mass of fibers, the latter are more thoroughly impregnated than is possible by the ordinary processes, while the subsequent application of heat and pressure removes a large amount of paraflinc, the

presence of which would impair the efiioien'cyof the packing.

' Claim.

The within-described process of impregnating a in suspension, and then removing the parafline by heat or pressure, or both.- 7

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. Witnesses: E. D. MURFEY.

THOMAS PBUDEN, HENRY MGMANUS. 

